The Calm Afterward...

 It has been mostly wet and cloudy here with tales of flooding making the news statewide. Thankfully, no fatalities have been reported. My complex has some tree debris. No known damage. I await the bug man. Thanks to all of you for your concern and good thoughts. I send the same to all of you,

Rain, wind and possible tornadoes

 We are bot on target for a direct hit from Idalia, but we'll see what tomorrow brings. Good thoughts appreciated. I am hoping all will be safe during the hurricane and afterward during the clean up.

Greetings from Ralph DeRoach...

 I seem to be attracting palmetto bugs, otherwise known as large flying cockroaches. I've seen two tonight in unlikely places and both were lightening fast in making their escape. I have not had the bug man visit since the pandemic so I don't think his baits are still effective. I will be spraying and dusting with boric acid powder this week. My understanding from reading about them is that they can and do come in clean houses. as well as dirty ones, often looking for water.

The last time this happened, I had just gotten new neighbors. Guess what? Two apartments which had been empty around me are newly occupied. No cat box, no trash. no food left out, no empty boxes, bags or packaging. What else could they be looking for???

Today

 My low back is less bothersome today. I irritated it moving the bed. After sleeping in, I had breakfast at lunchtime and commenced cleaning the kitchen, beginning with sorting out and wiping down the inside of the refrigerator, a task I do about every ten days or so. Being on this schedule means there is little build up of muck and also little to no food waste as I tend to eat whatever is open or leftover in there first before cooking or buying anything else.

This cleaning netted me one bottle of ear drops for Lukas and a half box of baking soda which I transferred to a bowl to absorb odors. Using hydrogen peroxide, I had the shelves, drawer and all the crannies shining and free of debris. Everything was re-organized, and I was able to wash out a pot and some other containers before cleaning the sink, counter and cabinet fronts. This took a bit, and by the time I was ready for a break, I did not feel like cooking and decided to fashion a cold plate featuring beets, olives, chopped cucumber and sliced Roma tomatoes with a few carrots and some Tzatziki and crackers. I have enough for tomorrow as well, along with the chicken noodle and vegetable soup made the other day.

Has anyone heard the latest on hurricane Hilary or Maui?

There seem to be five or six weather systems developing...Yikes!

My latest books have all been rather escapist detective fiction courtesy of Kathy Trochek aka Mary Kay Andrews. The series, penned largely in the early to mid nineties features a dogged ex-cop turned private eye and cleaning lady, and a motley crew of her family and employees based in Atlanta. I also started a wonderful non-fiction book entitled, The Other Family Doctor by Karen Fine. DVM. She delves into the human-animal bond, including grief and euthanasia. I had to put the book down today as the tears flowed yet again.

New Normal...

 I haven't been myself but yesterday, a wild hair compelled me to make a start on cleaning and chores. These included three loads of laundry, hand vacuuming beneath my bed, moving the bed so that I could accomplish this and then shifting it back into original position and getting up whatever else was lurking under there.

Since Lukas rarely went under the bed I was shocked at the fur balls and midway through became teary and bleary. I won't tell you how long it takes a woman in a wheelchair to move a full size bed. Apart from fur, there was a holiday letter, a card from a friend and various bits of trash which I do not ever remember as being on the floor.

Once that and the laundry was done, I made the bed up, rooted through the pantry for the makings of chicken soup, washed the dishes, made a grocery list and ordered, put the laundry away, unpacked a large box of supplies from Amazon, and put the food away when it came. Trash was taken out, along with the paper and cardboard recyclables. Our trash situation hasn't improved as much as it should have. People don't seal their trash bags, littering around the dumpster and some idiot left a "free" cabinet out for the taking which has sat outdoors in the rain for two days and it will cost money to have that hauled away. Our monthly maintenance has risen 35 percent in the last year for a variety of reasons, and hauling costs eat into that.

I had planned to clean and mop the bathroom and kitchen and mop the rest of the abode. however. I found myself in a bit of pain today so decided to leave that for the weekend. I'll get to blogs as I am able.

Wishing you all a good weekend.

Earworm

 I heard this on the radio and can't stop humming it...

Missing Him...

 

64

 Sir Paul was very young when he penned this. I am sixty-four today.

Have a sweet day and a good weekend!

Birthday Surprise!

 These were a beautiful surprise and made me smile for the first time all week. I did not care that they were a day early. My thanks to everyone who has left comments and condolences here. This week has been hard. I got Lukas's paw prints this morning just as his food and various other items went out the door for donation. I miss him so much...